Dunedin Station, New Zealand
Top 11 in Top 12 Most Beautiful Railway Stations
A station in the southern hemisphere is adjusting to the real politik of rail travel in that region of the world while the futuristic Liège-Guillemins railway station in Belgium ushers in an exciting new era of rail travel on the continent.
In order to survive, the Flemish Renaissance-inspired Dunedin Railway Station in New Zealand had to adopt multifunctionalism. Although he had apparently preferred an alternative design that had a "Scottish manor house" feel, architect George Troup became known as "Gingerbread George" thanks to this fairytale castle made of basalt and limestone.
The building, which once housed New Zealand's busiest station but has since seen a sharp decline in traffic, is now home to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in addition to a restaurant and an art gallery. The main platform is changed into the "longest runway in the world" each year for a fashion show.
